Through IrishEyes 4/1

Anna Hickey

04/01/2013

IrishEyes looks at the week in review and previews the week ahead in recruiting. We tell you what big names are expected on campus in the next few days, what players were recently offered and what their thoughts are on the Irish, and what we think of a huge decision looming for one prospect that will come to an end tomorrow at 2 p.m.

***4-star and the No. 3 ranked offensive tackle by Scout.com -- Kc McDermott -- of Wellington (Fla.) Palm Beach Central has scheduled a press conference to announce his decision between Miami and Notre Dame tomorrow (4/2) at 2 p.m. at his high school. He visited Notre Dame last week, and by all accounts, the visit went very well.
An exchange between Scout.com and McDermott last Thursday:
"When Scout asked McDermott if he knew today which school he would choose, he said, "Not yet, I will know Tuesday."
My thoughts: A lot of signs pointing to the U. IrishEyes.com (Brian Dohn) take: At this point, there have been reports of McDermott choosing Miami, and I have heard nothing to the contrary, but would like the kid to have his day.
***4-star and the No. 2 ranked offensive guard by Scout.com -- Sam Mustipher -- of Olney (Md.) Good Counsel is visiting Notre Dame on Wednesday, April 3. Mustipher visited Notre Dame in mid-January and left with an offer. The Irish are high on his list, as are Michigan, Ohio State, and Maryland. After his Notre Dame visit, Mustipher will see Ohio State (his third time seeing the Buckeyes), Michigan and Northwestern.
My thoughts: Mustipher isn't publicly naming leaders, but with return visits planned for Notre Dame and Ohio State, you know those two are in good position. Michigan also has a chance to make a big push this week. After this round of visits, Mustipher will likely have a leader or co-leaders, even if he chooses not to say them, especially since he'll have a solid means for comparison with visits scheduled so close together. I think Notre Dame is the leader right now. Florida and North Carolina could be dark horses in this race.
***4-star and the No. 6 ranked offensive tackle by Scout.com -- Jamarco Jones -- of Chicago (Ill.) De La Salle is also expected to visit Notre Dame early this week, most likely on April 3 as well. Jones will also visit Michigan, Michigan State, and Wisconsin this week. No early decision expected.
My thoughts: Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Ohio State are his big four right now. Could be telling if Mustipher and Jones end up on campus the same day. The staff could really pound home that they could be a pair of stars up front for the Irish in upcoming years.
***4-star and the No. 29 ranked wide receiver by Scout.com -- Corey Holmes -- of Fort Lauderdale (Fla.) St. Thomas Aquinas is visiting Notre Dame Saturday, April 6. This will be Holmes' third visit to campus. He told Scout.com recently that during this visit he would like to see more of campus and see "what it's like to be a student [at Notre Dame]." Wants to get all of his official visits in before he makes a decision. The Irish have also offered Holmes' teammate DL Anthony Moten.
My thoughts: I believe Auburn, Clemson, Notre Dame, Miami, Michigan and Syracuse (where his father played) are all near the front. The fact he lives in Florida and is making a third unofficial to Notre Dame before summer even starts tells you he has sincere interest in the Irish. St. Thomas Aquinas and Notre Dame are obviously similar and that could play in Notre Dame's favor.
Also, a recent exchange between Holmes and our Michigan site:
"In the past you said you're wide open for every school, but that Notre Dame and Michigan were still kind of sticking out. Has that changed at all for you?"
Corey Holmes: "Yeah, I would say that definitely has changed for me. I like a lot of different schools now that I'm looking at. I would say that Michigan and Notre Dame are in the mix with the other schools at the moment."
*** 4-star and the No. 8 ranked OT -- Quenton Nelson -- of Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic is also visiting Notre Dame April 6. He has well over 20 offers, but the Irish are not one...yet. Scout.com spoke with him recently about his upcoming visit to see the Irish. He'll also visit Ohio State, Northwestern, Rutgers, and Penn State this week.
***2015 quarterback -- Jack Beneventi -- of Lisle (Ill.) Benet Academy picked up an offer from Notre Dame on Easter, and he spoke with Scout.com about last week's visit to see the Irish and the new offer. Beneventi also has early offers from Illinois (first offer), UMass, and Western Michigan.
My thoughts: Still very early. Had a great time on his visit and should Notre Dame really pursue him down the road, the Irish should be in good position for not only showing early interest, but for extending an early offer.
***4-star linebacker -- Rashaan Evans -- of Auburn (Ala.) High picked up a Notre Dame offer on Friday, March 29. Scout.com spoke with him and he admitted the offer was unexpected, but he hopes to visit Notre Dame before narrowing his list. He said UCLA, Tennessee, Florida, and UGA are the schools recruiting him the hardest right now.
Since he's a hot topic, I'll add in EH to this update.
***4-star and the No. 10 ranked running back -- Elijah Hood -- of Charlotte (N.C.) Catholic has decided to slow down his recruitment, or at least slow down talking about it with the public. Hood told Scout recently that he's no longer putting out a top five.
My thoughts: Notre Dame and North Carolina are the teams to beat. If location ultimately plays a big factor for Hood, North Carolina is in great position. However, Notre Dame has been his leader for a majority of his recruitment and his love for the Irish won't dissolve quickly. If North Carolina becomes his leader at some point during his recruitment, but he ends up picking the Irish in the end, I would not be surprised.
***A few tidbits: 3-star center Brian Allen of Hinsdale (Ill.) High (no offer) has schedueled a visit for the spring game and 3-star defensive end Dylan Thompson of Lombard (Ill.) Montini Catholic (no offer) has cancelled all visits (was scheduled to visit Notre Dame on April 6) since committing to Ohio State on March 23. Also, Notre Dame commit Jimmy Byrne is visiting Notre Dame on April 6.